What was supposed to be a quiet dinner run turned into another chapter in the turbulent life of Jon Mellis — a man who’s already endured four years behind bars, isolation, and public labeling for his connection to January 6.
Outside a diner in West Hollywood, chaos erupted when Mellis — wearing a Proud Boys-themed shirt and a red MAGA hat — was surrounded and attacked by a group of demonstrators. Within minutes, his shirt was torn, his hat set ablaze, and his presence turned into a lightning rod for fury.
Mellis, now 38 and recently pardoned, was filming a short video for his online followers when the confrontation began.
“I was recording, trying to stay calm, not arguing — just talking to the camera,” Mellis recalled during an interview on Sunday. “They screamed, shoved, tore my shirt apart, and burned my hat. It was insane.”
He described the scene as a mob spiraling out of control, driven more by symbolism than substance. “Just standing there wearing that hat seemed enough to enrage them,” he said.
Police eventually arrived, but only after the incident had ended. The destruction was already done — a moment Mellis says speaks volumes about the times.
Violent left-wing protest at the Tesla Diner in LA. Clearly the Left are the violent ones. God bless Charlie Kirk, and all the victims of left-wing violence. Much more footage to come. @DonaldJTrumpJr @dbongino @elonmusk @laralogan @TPUSA @TeslaDinerX #jonmellis #trump #tesla pic.twitter.com/sutc36tB53
— Jon Mellis (@PatriotWildMann) October 1, 2025
A Divisive Symbol in the Public Eye
To his critics, Mellis remains a polarizing figure — a reminder of one of America’s most contentious political moments. To his supporters, he’s a survivor of political persecution, someone who took punishment for standing up for what he believed in.
Mellis spent more than four years in federal custody, including two years in solitary confinement, for actions during the January 6 protests. He maintains that his role that day was not violent — claiming he intervened to help a woman allegedly beaten by police.
His December 2023 sentence included both prison time and more than $20,000 in restitution. When former President Donald Trump issued a sweeping pardon in January 2025, Mellis walked free — though the scars of his ordeal still follow him.
“Freedom doesn’t come easy,” he said. “Even now, I’m listed online as some kind of terrorist. Employers shut the door before I can even walk in.”
Life After the Pardon
Since his release, Mellis has traveled the country speaking at political events and conservative gatherings, using his story as both warning and motivation.
“I’ve met incredible people across the spectrum — black, white, gay, straight — all of them tired of being afraid to speak their minds,” he said. “There are more of us than they think.”
Yet life hasn’t been easy. Mellis says he’s struggled to find stable work and relies on small construction jobs when possible. He’s currently supporting his mother through ongoing health issues while trying to build a career as an independent journalist and activist.
“I’m not asking for pity,” he explained. “When people donate, they’re not helping me survive — they’re helping me keep telling the truth. They’re helping me travel, report, and show people what’s really going on.”
A Voice That Refuses to Fade
Mellis has turned his experience into a growing online presence, using the handle @PatriotWildMan to post videos, interviews, and commentary. He’s also working on a book and discussing potential media projects.
Even as he rebuilds his life, he says his mission is larger than himself — to draw attention to what he calls a “double standard in justice.”
“You look at what happened to me and what happens to groups like Antifa — it’s not even close,” Mellis said. “Some of those who caused chaos for months in 2020 walked away with payouts. I got years in a cell.”
Several of his former associates — including veterans and first responders — remain entangled in legal battles despite receiving commutations. Mellis says their pardons should be absolute. “They fought for this country,” he said. “They shouldn’t have their benefits stripped away for political reasons.”
The Fight Ahead
From solitary confinement to social media activism, Mellis’s journey is both turbulent and deeply symbolic. He admits the road ahead is uncertain but says silence is not an option.
“They tried to erase me,” he said. “Instead, they gave me a story that people need to hear.”
For Mellis, the fight is no longer just about one event — it’s about what he sees as the soul of a nation. And despite everything — torn shirts, empty pockets, and relentless criticism — he stands by his belief that speaking out is worth the price.
@patriotwildman www.wearegoodmen.com to support my mission, making the content you love and spreading the truth #JonMellis ♬ original sound – patriotwildman
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